Presidential Address: The Mystery and the Magic of the Group: What Happens Here That Happens No Where Else?

66th Annual Conference

Friday, February 20
8:30 – 9:45 A.M.

First Annual Anne and Ramon Alonso Plenary Address

Strong Group Foundations: Building Healing Communities

J. Scott Rutan, Ph.D., CGP, DFAGPA

On August 26, 2007, Anne Alonso died. I am indeed honored that I have been chosen to present the first of what will be an ongoing series of Plenary addresses that will be supported by a fund in her (and Ramon’s) name. It is fitting that we be regularly reminded of her. In 1993 Anne stood before this assemblage, preparatory to ascending to our Presidency and on the occasion of AGPA’s 50th birthday, and she gave a memorable address entitled “Group Therapy and the Village Well.” As we begin our Annual Meeting with the overall topic of building lasting communities, Anne’s words have a prophetic ring. As she reviewed changes in theory and concepts of group therapy over the 50 years of AGPA’s existence, she came to the conclusion that AGPA needs serve as a village well for those of us who work with groups. In this suggestion she understood the importance of building lasting communities. And she suggested that AGPA was uniquely positioned to provide that village well function for group therapists. I would suggest that perhaps we should envision an even wider and more auspicious mission. If ever the world needed a village well, it is now. If ever the world needed help in building lasting communities, it is now. Indeed, what is required is that we build healing communities within the world.

J. Scott Rutan, Ph.D., CGP, DFAGPA is Founder of the Center for Group Psychotherapy at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Co-Founder and Faculty of the Boston Institute of Psychotherapy and is in Private Practice in Newton, Massachusetts. He has been a member of AGPA for over 40 years. He has been an active and generative leader within the Association. His constant participation has included co-chairing several committees, serving two terms on the Board of Directors, becoming a member of the Executive Committee and serving the Association as President. Dr. Rutan has given numerous presentations and written extensively on a wide variety of topics. His book publications include: Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy; Inpatient Group Psychotherapy: A Psychodynamic Perspective; and Psychotherapy for the 1990s.